Harry stood in front of that portrait for the next couple of hours, refusing to move as he talked to his parents. I was glad the magic had taken so well, as they were able to react, respond and converse with him as if they were real people. The collections of memories had really painted well on them, and Lily often remarked how well Harry had grown up as he lay out all of his worries and problems to them, the rest of us in the portrait also listening though remaining silent in order to allow Harry time with the most lifelike interaction he was ever going to have with his parents. I had briefly explained that he would need to teach his own painted counterpart how to speak, act and think like him, then left him to it.
James had adamantly agreed with Harry about Remus's situation, and if he were alive he would have also sent Remus straight back to his wife and child with a reminder that there was nothing as important as family and the people we loved. The only thing that had pulled Harry away from that portrait is when Kreacher returned, the sound of his apparating echoing from the kitchen which brought all of us running to find a confusing array of limbs until Kreacher had managed to free himself, jumping up and bowing low to me with a sweep of his arm. "Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher, Mistress."
"Excellent Kreacher!" I praised as Fletcher leaped to his feet, going for his wand but Hermione promptly disarmed him. He tried to run, but Ron flattened him to the ground and I quickly made ropes wrap around his arms and torso, pinning his arms to the ground so that he could only lay there like an oversized slug as he struggled and writhed, yelling frantically.
"What? Wha've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'ouse-elf on me, what are you playing at?" He demanded before begging to be let go as I then made him sit up with my wand pointed at him, dropping him into a chair which I then chained him to for good measure, and as his eyes fell on me, his jaw dropped and he quickly realised the trouble he was in.
"Hello Mundungus, so good to see you again." I started pleasantly with a rather sinister smile as Kreacher hurried to come and stand with me, resting a hand on my leg as he sneered at Fletcher from behind me. "As I understand it, you've been helping yourself to my property? And here I thought we were friends. I'm quite hurt, you know." Fletcher rather wisely clamped his mouth shut, looking at the four of us who all had our wands trained on him.
"Kreacher apologises for the delay in bringing the thief, Mistress. Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cornered the thief in the end." Kreacher explained to me so I paused in my sinister glaring to flash him a smile.
"You did a great job getting him so quickly. He is rather slippery, you really have impressed me Kreacher. Well done." Delighted with the high praise, Kreacher bowed again then sat himself down in order to watch the interaction, as if hoping that there might be some torture in store for Fletcher who was now beginning to squirm warily. "So, we have some questions for you, Fletcher."
"I panicked, okay!" He suddenly yelped, his voice squeaking tightly and I had to blink as I was momentarily confused over what he was talking about. "I never wanted to come along, no offence mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin' You-Know-Who come flying at me, anyone woulda got outta there, I said all along I didn't wanna do it…"
"For your information, none of the rest of us disapparated." Hermione told him flatly, wrinkling her nose distastefully as he stopped his squirming to scowl at her.
"Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes, then, aren't you, but I never pretended I was up for killing me self…"
"Enough about that, we don't care to know that you're a coward. We knew that already." I cut him off, jabbing my wand a little closer so that it was now poking the end of his nose.
"Well…uh…is about the stuff I nicked then?" I paused a moment.
"We'll come back to that. What I want to know about is a particular item you stole from my house-elf's room."
"Sirius never cared about any of the junk…" Before Fletcher could finish, I was surprised to suddenly find a copper saucepan flash before me before it clanged upon connection with Fletcher's head, making him yell as Kreacher started to lift it up again for another strike as I burst out with a laugh but Harry wisely jumped in.
"Kreacher, no!" The elf paused, staring intently at Fletcher whilst still holding up the saucepan, though he seemed to struggle with the weight.
"Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?" I spluttered again, cackling cheerfully as Ron joined in.
"We need him conscious Kreacher, but if he needs persuading you can do the honours." Harry promised him and I wiped a tear from my face as Kreacher nodded his head.
"Thank you very much, young master." It was only then that I noticed the sudden change in address Kreacher was using with Harry, and as he jumped down I asked him about it whilst keeping my wand placed firmly between Fletcher's eyes, making them go funny as he tried to stare at it. "Mistress Mia has said that Master Harry Potter is family in the past. Kreacher obeys the family of House Black. Mistress Mia insists that Master Harry is like her brother, therefore Kreacher will obey any orders Master Harry might give." He said but then paused, thinking for a moment. "If Kreacher feels like it." I laughed again, thoroughly amused as I tossed Harry a grin.
"I think Kreacher has warmed up to you, Harry. Good stuff Kreacher, I'm really happy you think that way. Now, back to you Mundungus Fletcher. The stuff you stole from the cupboard in Kreacher's room. There was a locket there, big gold thing, studded with emeralds, can't miss it. Where is it?" Everyone else held their breath as Fletcher looked around nervously, uncertain of what this was all about but now looked thoroughly intrigued.
"Why? Is it valuable?"
"You've still got it!" Hermione hoped but Ron shook his head with a slump of his shoulders.
"No, he hasn't. He's wondering whether he should have asked more money for it."
"More? That wouldn't have been effing difficult…bleedin' gave it away, didn't I? No choice." Demanding to know what he meant, Fletcher hesitated to reply so I called Kreacher and he promptly brought the saucepan crashing down on Fletcher's foot, making him howl. "Alright! Alright! I was selling in Diagon Alley, an' she come up to me an' asks if I've got a licence for trading in magical artefacts. Bleedin' snoop. She was gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to the locket an' told me she'd take it and let me off that time an' to fink meself lucky."
"Who was this woman?"
"I dunno, some Ministry hag. Little woman. Bow on top of 'er head. Looked like a toad." Even from that vague description, each of us knew exactly who he was talking about. I swore colourfully, making Kreacher gasp at me with scolding. Here I was thinking we were finally shot of that woman. The rest of us then fell into comprehensive silence, knowing that this wasn't going to be as easy as we hoped. Our reverie was broken by Fletcher, who tentatively piped up with a hopeful look in his eyes. "So…was it valuable?"
Kreacher promptly whacked him on the head.